Worldview, Evangelism & Apologetics
Introduction – Our Calling as Christians
The last words of Jesus to His disciples before He ascended to heaven were the command to make disciples of all the nations.[1] This is typically termed as the Great Commission and it is the calling of all Christians. Every Christian has the privilege and the responsibility of sharing the gospel of Christ. Believers are to make non-believers aware of their sin. The world must also be warned of the desperate position they are in under the wrath of God. Finally they need to know that there is hope in Christ.
Yet the regenerate Christian thinks of things in a way quite different from the unregenerate person. This different way of seeing things results in questions and objections being raised. When this occurs the believer is called to have a reasoned defense for what they believe.[2] In spite of what many unbelievers think, Christianity is not based merely on blind faith. Christianity has many solid evidences that validate the reasonableness of believing in Christ. This is not to say that everything in the Christian faith can be understood; it is merely stating that God has provided evidence so that the sinful, rebellious hearts of men may have no reason not to believe.
What causes this difference in the way the Christian and the non-Christian view the world around them? The core difference is the presence of sin.[3] Man in general views his world in an anthropocentric sort of way. This is to say that everything is viewed in light of how it relates to mankind. Anything that cannot be explained is either claimed to be unreal or is attributed to a deity designed by man that can be manipulated by man. In contrast the Christian views all things in light of the belief that the sovereign God that created all things has revealed Himself to mankind.[4] This is a theocentric way of viewing the world. It sees things in light of how they relate to God and His revelation.
Overview of Worldview
As would seem apparent by the title and theme of this paper there will be many references to worldview. Basically a worldview is an all-encompassing and structured way of looking at life and the world.[5] To put it more simply a worldview is like a windshield in a car. It is what we view the world through and that view can be obscured by what is “on our windshield”, or, in our worldview. If one has inconsistent or bad ideas integrated into their worldview it is like having ice or mud on the windshield of their car.[6] It is difficult to see clearly and may result in great damage to the person viewing the world through that system. A worldview is not merely a vision of life but a vision for life.[7]
A thorough worldview should answer several basic questions regarding such things as the nature and task of mankind, the nature of the world, the basic hurdle to overcome in fulfilling man’s purpose and how that hurdle is overcome.[8] To unregenerate man the answers to these questions are typically sought within man himself. Most non-Christian worldviews hold man at the center and make little allowance for the God found in the Bible. In some worldviews the universe is a closed system that operates by a given set of rules. Some would say that the universe is eternal while some claim that it was created by a divine being but that deity is now shut out of the operation of the universe. Other views state that there is at least one god but that god is impersonal, not caring about the affairs of men, or so personal as to be merely a higher level of humanity and not powerful enough to make a significant difference in the universe as a whole. Any of these views leaves man as the one that is primarily responsible for using his ingenuity to provide for his day-to-day needs and to improve his state of being.
In contrast to this, the Christian worldview holds that an omnipotent and sovereign God created the entire universe for His own purposes and that the universe He created was very good. This God has revealed Himself to mankind in three persons (the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit). The problems that we now experience are a result of mankind rebelling against the God that created him. This rebellion brought sickness, evil and death into the world. The solution to this problem was that God the Father sent God the Son to take on an additional, human, nature in order to live a perfect life in the place of mankind and to suffer the punishment due the sins of mankind. Man cannot fulfill the purpose that God created him for until God has changed his heart from one of rebellion to one of obedience. When God has changed a man’s heart in this way he views the world in a new way. He no longer sees things as centered around man, but on God.
There are differing levels, or layers, of beliefs in a person’s worldview. Some of these beliefs are held to lightly, or with little conviction.[9] Other views, though, are very central to the overall worldview and are foundational in the way the person sees the universe. When these core beliefs are challenged it can cause a great crisis in the person who holds them. This crisis forces one to rethink their belief and they will either find an explanation for the point in question that is consistent with their worldview and continue to hold the worldview or they will be unable to answer the challenge in an acceptable way and find themselves having to change their worldview.
Worldview and Evangelism
The Christian worldview emphasizes that man is subject to a sovereign God and the purpose of man is to love and obey that God. One of the commands that this sovereign God has given to His followers is to make followers of others. The challenge in this is that those who are not followers of God have a mindset that is in rebellion to God and all His purposes.
The key concept in worldview that is helpful in doing evangelism is that unregenerate man thinks in a man-centered way. Because of this man is viewed as essentially good. This is totally opposite the view of man in the Christian worldview which states that man is essentially sinful and in rebellion against God. In evangelism, the first points that need to be made are that man is sinful and that he is accountable to a holy God. These points are typically met with much resistance due to the fact that most non-Christian worldviews either deny the reality of sin (or the person’s personal sinfulness) or they deny the existence of God (or at least of a god that would interfere in the affairs of man). With this in mind it must be pointed out that man is not perfect and that this lack of perfection is what constitutes sin. It is the area of apologetics to point out the evidence for the existence of God. This will be addressed in the next section. Ultimately it is the work of the Holy Spirit which changes the hearts of man in order to see the sinfulness of their heart and to bring about the repentance necessary for salvation.
Worldview and Apologetics
As mentioned above the ideas of man’s sinfulness and his accountability to God typically encounter much resistance when sharing the truths of Christianity with an unsaved world. This is where apologetics comes in. Anyone that is not familiar with Christianity is going to have questions about many of the beliefs within that system. The process of answering these questions and objections is the object of the discipline of apologetics.
Many, if not all, unsaved people believe that Christianity is based upon blind faith. While they may concede that Jesus was a real person they deny the supernatural aspects of His life. In actuality Christianity has solid evidence to support many of the claims it makes. While there is not necessarily evidence for all that Christianity holds there is enough evidence in other areas to indicate its reliability as a system of belief. Besides, if Christianity comes from an infinite God no finite mind will ever be able to understand it fully.
Again the key point is regeneration. A person that has not been touched by God will turn a blind eye to any evidence or argument that supports Christianity. So it is that the point is underscored that “unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”[10] So in the final analysis it is the work of the Holy Spirit that enables a person to see the evidence for what it is and to repent of their sin and believe in Christ for salvation. Yet, at the same time, the Christian is still to have answers for the unbeliever’s objections so that they will be without excuse and all the more condemned on the Day of Judgment.
Summary – Is There Common Ground?
In summary it has been shown that Christians are to share their faith with those in the world around them. This command is obeyed because the Christian worldview holds that there is a sovereign God that created mankind for His glory and that, because of this, man is to obey God. The challenge in actually making disciples of all the nations is that their worldview is diametrically opposed to that of Christianity.
The worldview of man is centered upon man and is in rebellion against God. Therefore many of Christianity’s truth claims are going to be challenged as backward and primitive. Simply put there is no common ground for the Christian to start with. Yet there is still hope in reaching the lost; for, while Christians are commanded to have a reason for their faith, it is not the reasoned argument that wins the soul to Christ. It is only through the work of the Holy Spirit upon the life of the individual that a person is regenerated and granted salvation.
Bibliography
Greer, James. Christian Worldview. class notes.
Nash, Ronald H. Worldviews in Conflict. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1992.
New American Standard Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1995.
Thomas, Jim. Coffeehouse Theology. Eugene, OR: Harvest House, 2000.
Walsh, Brian J. and J. Richard Middleton. The Transforming Vision. Downers Grove, IL:
InterVarsity Press, 1984.
[1] Matthew 28:19, NASB.
[2] 1 Peter 3:15, NASB.
[3] Ronald H. Nash, Worldviews in Conflict (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1992), 40-41.
[4] James Greer, Christian Worldview, class notes.
[5] Nash, 14.
[6] Jim Thomas, Coffeehouse Theology (Eugene, OR: Harvest House, 2000), 26.
[7] Brian J. Walsh and J. Richard Middleton, The Transforming Vision (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1984), 31.
[8] Ibid, 34.
[9] Greer.
[10] John 3:3, NASB.
The last words of Jesus to His disciples before He ascended to heaven were the command to make disciples of all the nations.[1] This is typically termed as the Great Commission and it is the calling of all Christians. Every Christian has the privilege and the responsibility of sharing the gospel of Christ. Believers are to make non-believers aware of their sin. The world must also be warned of the desperate position they are in under the wrath of God. Finally they need to know that there is hope in Christ.
Yet the regenerate Christian thinks of things in a way quite different from the unregenerate person. This different way of seeing things results in questions and objections being raised. When this occurs the believer is called to have a reasoned defense for what they believe.[2] In spite of what many unbelievers think, Christianity is not based merely on blind faith. Christianity has many solid evidences that validate the reasonableness of believing in Christ. This is not to say that everything in the Christian faith can be understood; it is merely stating that God has provided evidence so that the sinful, rebellious hearts of men may have no reason not to believe.
What causes this difference in the way the Christian and the non-Christian view the world around them? The core difference is the presence of sin.[3] Man in general views his world in an anthropocentric sort of way. This is to say that everything is viewed in light of how it relates to mankind. Anything that cannot be explained is either claimed to be unreal or is attributed to a deity designed by man that can be manipulated by man. In contrast the Christian views all things in light of the belief that the sovereign God that created all things has revealed Himself to mankind.[4] This is a theocentric way of viewing the world. It sees things in light of how they relate to God and His revelation.
Overview of Worldview
As would seem apparent by the title and theme of this paper there will be many references to worldview. Basically a worldview is an all-encompassing and structured way of looking at life and the world.[5] To put it more simply a worldview is like a windshield in a car. It is what we view the world through and that view can be obscured by what is “on our windshield”, or, in our worldview. If one has inconsistent or bad ideas integrated into their worldview it is like having ice or mud on the windshield of their car.[6] It is difficult to see clearly and may result in great damage to the person viewing the world through that system. A worldview is not merely a vision of life but a vision for life.[7]
A thorough worldview should answer several basic questions regarding such things as the nature and task of mankind, the nature of the world, the basic hurdle to overcome in fulfilling man’s purpose and how that hurdle is overcome.[8] To unregenerate man the answers to these questions are typically sought within man himself. Most non-Christian worldviews hold man at the center and make little allowance for the God found in the Bible. In some worldviews the universe is a closed system that operates by a given set of rules. Some would say that the universe is eternal while some claim that it was created by a divine being but that deity is now shut out of the operation of the universe. Other views state that there is at least one god but that god is impersonal, not caring about the affairs of men, or so personal as to be merely a higher level of humanity and not powerful enough to make a significant difference in the universe as a whole. Any of these views leaves man as the one that is primarily responsible for using his ingenuity to provide for his day-to-day needs and to improve his state of being.
In contrast to this, the Christian worldview holds that an omnipotent and sovereign God created the entire universe for His own purposes and that the universe He created was very good. This God has revealed Himself to mankind in three persons (the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit). The problems that we now experience are a result of mankind rebelling against the God that created him. This rebellion brought sickness, evil and death into the world. The solution to this problem was that God the Father sent God the Son to take on an additional, human, nature in order to live a perfect life in the place of mankind and to suffer the punishment due the sins of mankind. Man cannot fulfill the purpose that God created him for until God has changed his heart from one of rebellion to one of obedience. When God has changed a man’s heart in this way he views the world in a new way. He no longer sees things as centered around man, but on God.
There are differing levels, or layers, of beliefs in a person’s worldview. Some of these beliefs are held to lightly, or with little conviction.[9] Other views, though, are very central to the overall worldview and are foundational in the way the person sees the universe. When these core beliefs are challenged it can cause a great crisis in the person who holds them. This crisis forces one to rethink their belief and they will either find an explanation for the point in question that is consistent with their worldview and continue to hold the worldview or they will be unable to answer the challenge in an acceptable way and find themselves having to change their worldview.
Worldview and Evangelism
The Christian worldview emphasizes that man is subject to a sovereign God and the purpose of man is to love and obey that God. One of the commands that this sovereign God has given to His followers is to make followers of others. The challenge in this is that those who are not followers of God have a mindset that is in rebellion to God and all His purposes.
The key concept in worldview that is helpful in doing evangelism is that unregenerate man thinks in a man-centered way. Because of this man is viewed as essentially good. This is totally opposite the view of man in the Christian worldview which states that man is essentially sinful and in rebellion against God. In evangelism, the first points that need to be made are that man is sinful and that he is accountable to a holy God. These points are typically met with much resistance due to the fact that most non-Christian worldviews either deny the reality of sin (or the person’s personal sinfulness) or they deny the existence of God (or at least of a god that would interfere in the affairs of man). With this in mind it must be pointed out that man is not perfect and that this lack of perfection is what constitutes sin. It is the area of apologetics to point out the evidence for the existence of God. This will be addressed in the next section. Ultimately it is the work of the Holy Spirit which changes the hearts of man in order to see the sinfulness of their heart and to bring about the repentance necessary for salvation.
Worldview and Apologetics
As mentioned above the ideas of man’s sinfulness and his accountability to God typically encounter much resistance when sharing the truths of Christianity with an unsaved world. This is where apologetics comes in. Anyone that is not familiar with Christianity is going to have questions about many of the beliefs within that system. The process of answering these questions and objections is the object of the discipline of apologetics.
Many, if not all, unsaved people believe that Christianity is based upon blind faith. While they may concede that Jesus was a real person they deny the supernatural aspects of His life. In actuality Christianity has solid evidence to support many of the claims it makes. While there is not necessarily evidence for all that Christianity holds there is enough evidence in other areas to indicate its reliability as a system of belief. Besides, if Christianity comes from an infinite God no finite mind will ever be able to understand it fully.
Again the key point is regeneration. A person that has not been touched by God will turn a blind eye to any evidence or argument that supports Christianity. So it is that the point is underscored that “unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”[10] So in the final analysis it is the work of the Holy Spirit that enables a person to see the evidence for what it is and to repent of their sin and believe in Christ for salvation. Yet, at the same time, the Christian is still to have answers for the unbeliever’s objections so that they will be without excuse and all the more condemned on the Day of Judgment.
Summary – Is There Common Ground?
In summary it has been shown that Christians are to share their faith with those in the world around them. This command is obeyed because the Christian worldview holds that there is a sovereign God that created mankind for His glory and that, because of this, man is to obey God. The challenge in actually making disciples of all the nations is that their worldview is diametrically opposed to that of Christianity.
The worldview of man is centered upon man and is in rebellion against God. Therefore many of Christianity’s truth claims are going to be challenged as backward and primitive. Simply put there is no common ground for the Christian to start with. Yet there is still hope in reaching the lost; for, while Christians are commanded to have a reason for their faith, it is not the reasoned argument that wins the soul to Christ. It is only through the work of the Holy Spirit upon the life of the individual that a person is regenerated and granted salvation.
Bibliography
Greer, James. Christian Worldview. class notes.
Nash, Ronald H. Worldviews in Conflict. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1992.
New American Standard Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1995.
Thomas, Jim. Coffeehouse Theology. Eugene, OR: Harvest House, 2000.
Walsh, Brian J. and J. Richard Middleton. The Transforming Vision. Downers Grove, IL:
InterVarsity Press, 1984.
[1] Matthew 28:19, NASB.
[2] 1 Peter 3:15, NASB.
[3] Ronald H. Nash, Worldviews in Conflict (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1992), 40-41.
[4] James Greer, Christian Worldview, class notes.
[5] Nash, 14.
[6] Jim Thomas, Coffeehouse Theology (Eugene, OR: Harvest House, 2000), 26.
[7] Brian J. Walsh and J. Richard Middleton, The Transforming Vision (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1984), 31.
[8] Ibid, 34.
[9] Greer.
[10] John 3:3, NASB.
Labels: apologetics, Christianity, worldview
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